Vibratory device for controlling discharge from a hopper containing a powdered or a small-size granular homogeneous substance



G. BARDET Aug. 18, 1953 VIBRATORY DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISCHARGE FROM -SIZE A HOPPER CONTAINING A POWDERED OR A SMALL GRANULAR HOMOGENEOUS SUBSTANCE Filed April 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 18, 1953 VIBRATORY DEVICE A HOPPER CONTAIN GRANULAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1948 MMEW Patented Aug. 18, 1953 warren: stars-s;

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VIBRATORY. DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING" DISCHARGE FROM A HOPPER CONTAIN- ING" A- POWDERED 0R A- SMALL-SIZE GRANULAIi HOMOGENEOUS SUBSTANCE Grard Bartlet, Paris, France Application April 15, 1948, S'erialNo. 21,278 In France October 20; 1947? 8 .Claims..

This invention is concerned, with a .device "designedatol controlv the discharge of. a-hopper containing; a powdered or a.small-size.granular. ho

mog eneous-Q substance such as flour, granulated sugar; rice, coffee and the like; with the aid: of

whiclr device the outflowoi the substance concerned; can be adjusted. or stopped altogether.

The device istcomposed. primarily of a movable element provided at the outlet of the hopper and consisting of. at least-two parallel plane andhorizontaliplateswhichuare equal in Width,. arranged at equal distances-from; one another, and inter connected. by verticalside plates. The distance between the plates is dependent on the. character; oft the; substance presentin. the hopper. The ends -of-said: plates next to. the hopper are ofiset withe respectto .oneanother in staircaselike; fashion;

Whenua 'steadvoutfiowof. the substance is to be": obtained itheamovable element according to theiinventionriareciprocated rapidly, the amplitude: and: frequency of such. a. reciprocatory motionvbeing-constant and dependent onthe=character of the substance; the directionoi the movement iseslightly at an angle tothe planes of the plates; The upper plate of themovable element. is.- recipr-ocatedv with a slight clearance below the lowerzedge of' that'hopper'wallwhich tween'. the.. successive. plates, and said slices? crumble and lay in a broken. up and powdered state-.on..-the plate-on.- which theyrest. At each followinghali-period otlthe. reciprocatingmovement,..that.is-whentheset of plates moves inthe direction opposite to the: hopper, the particles of the substance composing the cutaand crumbled slice commence being swept along towa-rdsthe outside ofthe hopper, owing. tothe efi ect. of. the said reciprocating movement, according1 to the known principle of the shaking chutes.

Eifecti-velm itis. known that: when. an approxi.- mately horizontal plate-is actuated; with. a. rapid.

reciprocatingrectilinear movement, of. translation I according; to. a direction at a. small angle with the plane of said plate, thev solid. particles then. on-theplate move. on .thesurface of same in direction which: is the projection onsaid. plate of the upward motion part of said reciprocating rectilinear movement of the plate.

The dischargeof substance will; cease as soon as the reciprocatory motion oftheplatesystemis stopped, due tothe bafile-effect of the same andv to the friction of the substance ontheplates.

0f course,-a still quicker cut-oil canbeobtained-- by providing the plates. with avknurled v ridged,

honeycombed or like friction-increasing. surface.

The distance between. any two .adjacentplates depends on the character of the substance. dealt with. For the discharge-of agiven substance, said distance should be sufiicientl-ylarge toallow. the

substance to flow between each pairof plates-as the movable element is reciprocated. inthe man.- ner explained. Said. distance should-be moreover sufficiently-small, sothat the layer of the substanceon every pl'ate of-the element-should be thin enough to causethefall. of thesubstance. from the rear-end oftheplates to be stopped as.

soon as theelement. is pulledup The amplitud irequency.anddirection of. the reciprocatory movement sh'ouldbe such that. the.

substance is suitably.cutthrough-and carried away.

The invention. is also concerned with various.

applications of the-device. considered.

Further features of theinventionwillbe pointed-out in thefollow-ing description in which. refer- 4 ence is. had to the appended drawing in. which;

Figures 1a, 1b and. 1c are longitudinal sections of a-deviceaccord-ing tov the invention at different stages .of its operation FigurerZis-a frcntview of. the deviceaccord ing, to- Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c.

FigureB is a. longitudinal section of amodification.

Figuresem. 4b andAc are. longitudinal sections of a furthermodification. atdifierent stages ofits. operation.

Figures 5-and 6 are respectively elevational and top. viewsoft-the device provided with its recipe rocating mechanism.-

Referring now to the embodiment shownin Figs.. 1a,. lb and 1c, 1 designates the discharge end or a hopper which. contains apowdered or a 3, 1i, 5, 6,. 1,8. denote the plates-providing the movable element.- Thesewplates have allthe same width, as may. be seen .in Fig. 2.1 They; are parallel. to each small-size. granular substance.

other, and the distance between any two consecutive plates is the same. They are approximately horizontal; they are held firm with each other by two vertical side plates 9, H1. As represented in Figs. 1a, lb, 1c, the ends of the plates which are engaged into the outlet of the hopper, are arranged with respect to one another in stepwise disposition. Through any reciprocating device, immaterial with regard to the invention, the set of plates can be endowed with a reciprocating movement towards and from the outlet of the hopper. This reciprocating movement is efiected along a direction F meeting said parallel plates at a small angle a, in the range of about to The location of this angle a. must be as represented in Figs. 1a, 1b, 1c, 3, 4a, 4b, 40, that is such that during the half-period of the reciprocating movement directed towards the hopper outlet, the movable element is moved slightly downwards and during the half period directed from the hopper outlet, the movable element is moved slightly upwards. Consequently, the plates are dipped into the substance present in the outlet of the hopper according to a slightly downward direction and removed from the outlet of the hopper according to a slightly upward direction.

In Fig. 1a, the movable element is shown in the extreme position remote from the hopper, before the beginning of the reciprocating movement. In Fig. 1b, it is shown at the end of the first half-period of the reciprocating movement, that is at the end of the first dipping movement into the substance; this first movement is carried out according to a slightly downward direction parallel to the arrow F.

At the end of this half-period, slices of the substance are out between the successive plates. Said slices crumble at the beginning of the following half-period.

In Fig. 1c, the movable element is shown at the end of the second half-period, that is at the end of the upward half-period of the reciprocating movement. At this moment, the slices of the powdered substance that have been scooped between the successive plates 3 and 4, 4 and 5 l and 8, lie crumbled on the plates and they have begun to be swept away on the plates from the slicing edge thereof, that is towards the left on Fig. 10. During this half-period, the substance in the hopper has settled onto the plates 4, 5, 6, l and 8 ready for a new scooping when the movable element is dipped anew in the hopper, that is at the following half-period of the reciprocating movement. New slices will then be cut, will then crumble on the plates and will move away from the slicing edges, while the particles of the previously cut off slices move a little further towards this same direction. It will be the same at each of the following periods, and the material will be progressively jogged along on the surface of each of the plates 4 to 8.

The frequency of the reciprocating movement, for a flow of powdered sugar, may be comprised between 10 and 100 cycles per second; the frequency, as the amplitude of the movement, is likely to vary within large limits dependent on the nature of the broken up substance contained in the hopper.

Fig. 3 in which the numerals have the same significance as in the preceding figures, represents a modification in which all the plates except the one located lowermost are formed at their hopper-engaging end with a ridge or the like as indicated at 3', 4, 5, 6', I; the purpose of the said ridges is to prevent the material discharged from being compressed between any pair of successive plates and thus to facilitate the progression of said material since the thickness of the slice of material chopped away is less than the distance from one plate to the next one. In addition, the provision of such ridges will obviate the detrimental consequences of any difference in height along the channels formed by the plates.

A further modification is illustrated in Figs. 4a, 4b, 4c in which the plate ends next to the hopper are sloping downwards while the plates are generally horizontal; in said figures it, i l, 15, I6 designate the plates proper and [3, Hi, I5, I8, their respective sloping ends. Preferably, the bend in each plate is formed plumb belowthe edge of the next higher plate. Preferably also, the direction F of the reciprocatory motion of the plate set is parallel with the ends l3, M, [5, [6 of the plates.

As shown in Fig. 4a the movable element consists of a set of four plates E3, l4, l5, l6 and occupies its starting position. As shown in Fig. 4b the said element is at the end of its stroke towards the hopper and all the plates except the one 16 located lowermost have chopped practically equa1 slices of the material. Each slice rests on the plate next below.

As shown in Fig. 4c the plates are again in their starting position ready for a new chopping process while the material already present in the various channels is carried away in the manner explained hereinbefore.

The advantage with such an arrangement is that the material cannot be wedged between the plates (see Fig. 4) since a layer of material is scooped away the thickness of which is less than the height between any two successive plates in their horizontal portions. Moreover, owing to the absence of any ridge and to the fact that the plate ends dip into the material in directions parallel with their own slopes, any ramming of the material is thus prevented.

An embodiment of a movable element provided with conventional reciprocating means as mentioned hereinabove has been represented by mere way of exemplification in Figs. 5 and 6. These reciprocating means are known per se. They consist of an electromagnet 20, of which the movable armature 2| is connected with the movable element 22 by means of a fork 23. A fiat spring 24 connects this reciprocable fork to a fixed frame 25. A flexible strip 26 supports the front part of the fork 23.

The line according to which the armature 2| is reciprocated is at a slight angle a with the plates of the movable unit 22, in the way as indicated at Fig. 5.

The device according to the invention lends itself to various applications, for instance in weighing and bagging apparatus in the operation of which the material is jogged along to a point above and poured into a receptacle operatively connected with a scale-beam. As soon as the desired weight is reached the scale brings the device to rest, whereby the flow of material is stopped.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a longer rear wall, shorter front wall and connecting side Walls, a movable element for controlling the discharge of material from said spout, comprising a plurality of spaced, superposed parallelplates dispesed approximately horizontally at the lowergen'diopsatd' speutiarrdgisiderwalls connecting the plates, said plates being arranged in staircase-like,-fashion with thearear edgesflil' plate stepped forwardly fromlthe rear; edgeof thaplatebelow it, the rear edge-,portion of, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly beyond therear wall of" said spout-use; as, to closessaifld spout when said element is stationary and the rear edge of the uppermostpl'ateextending under the front wall of the. spout and intov said spout but terminating short; of; the rear: wall thereof, and means for vibrating said movable element with a rapid reciprocating movement in a direction forwardly-and-upwardly and rearwardly-and-downwardly relative to said plates to cause the material to be sliced off and to flow forwardly on said plates and be discharged from the forward edges thereof.

2. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening dis-charge spout having a rear wall, a front wall having a lower edge higher than the lower edge of said rear wall, and connecting side wall portions, a movable element controlling the discharge of material from said spout, comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally at the lower end of said spout and side walls connecting the plates, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly beyond the rear wall of said spout so as to close said spout when said element is stationary and the rear edges of superposed plates being stepped successively forwardly in staircase-like manner so that, proceeding upwardly from the lowermost plate, successive plates extend step-by-step lesser distances into said spout, and means for vibrating said movable element to produce flow of said material along said plates in a direction toward the front edges of said plates.

3. In a device for disposing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a bottom edge that is lower at the rear than at the front, a movable element normally closing the lower end of said spout and comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally and side walls connecting said plates, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly under the rear bottom edge of the spout, the uppermost plate extending under the front bottom edge of the spout and intervening plates extending progressively greater distances into said spout so that the rear edges of said plates are stepped downwardly and rearwardly in staircase-like manner, and means for vibrating said element with a forward and rearward motion to cause the rear edges of said plates, other than the lowermost plate, to successively bite into comminuted material in said spout and to produce flow of said material along the plates in a forward direction.

4. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a bottom edge that is lower at the rear than at the front, a movable element normally closing the lower end of said spout and comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally and side walls connecting said plates, each of said plates other than a bottom plate having a rear edge portion in the lower part of the spout, the distance said plates extend into the spout progressively increasing, proceeding from the top plate, and the bottom plate extending rearwardflow of said material; along: the plates in a; f or.-

- ward direction.

5" In a-devicefordispensingcomminutedlmaterial, a downwardly opening. dischargeispout: havingasbottom: edge that is-lower at the: rear than at the front, a movable el'ement normally closing the-lower end of said spout andicompris ing: a plurality: of" spaced superposed' parallel plates disposedapproximately horizonta-llyand sidewalls connectingsaid plates, the lowermost:

plate extending: rearwardlyunderthe: rear-bot tom edge ofisaid spout and the: rear edges-of su--- perposed plates -being stepped successively for wardly instaircasedike-manner so:- that; proceed ing upwardly fi'omthe-lowermost plate, successive plates extend progressively lesser distances into said spout, and the rear edge portions of said plates other than the lowermost plate having downwardly extending portions, and means for vibrating said movable element with a forward and rearward movement to produce flow of said material along the plates in a forward direction.

6. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a bottom edge that is lower at the rear than at the front, a movable element normally closing the lower end of said spout and comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally and side walls connecting said plates, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly under the rear bottom edge of said spout and the rear edges of superposed plates being stepped successively forwardly in staircase-like manner so that, proceeding upwardly from the lowermost plate, successive plates extend progressively lesser distances into said spout, said plates other than the lowermost plate having downwardly projecting ribs adjacent their rear edges, and means for vibrating said movable element with a forward and rearward movement to produce flow of said material between the plates in a forward direction.

7. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a bottom edge that is lower at the rear than at the front, a movable element normally closing the lower end of said spout and comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally and side walls connecting said plates, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly under the rear bottom edge of said spout and the rear edges of superposed plates being stepped successively forwardly in staircase-like manner so that, proceeding upwardly from the lowermost plate, successive plates extend progressively lesser distances into said spout, said plates having rear edge portions that slope rearwardly and downwardly relative to the plane of the main portions of the plates, and means for vibrating said movable element with a forward and rearward movement to produce flow of said material between the plates in a forward direction.

8. In a device for dispensing comminuted material, a downwardly opening discharge spout having a bottom edge that is lower at the rear than at the front, a movable element normally closing the lower end of said spout and comprising a plurality of spaced superposed parallel plates disposed approximately horizontally and side walls connecting said plates, the lowermost plate extending rearwardly under the rear bottom edge of said spout and the rear edges of superposed plates being stepped successively forwardly in staircase-like manner so that, proceeding upwardly from the lowermost plate, successive plates extend progressively lesser distances into said spout, said plates having rear edge portions that slope rearwardly and downwardly relative to the plane of the main portions of the plate, the juncture of said sloping portion with the main horizontal portion of each plate being approximately directly below the rear edge of the next higher plate, and means for vibrating said movable element with a forward and rearward movement to produce flow of said material between the plates in a forward direction.

GERARD B'ARDET.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 

